Abstract: A machine that uses modified air jet technology for weft insertion, knitting needles for Z yarn insertion and "closers" to close the warp sheds before beating to produce three-dimensional fabric in flat, wide panels at high speed. The fabric is characterized by a pattern consisting of the conventional multiple rows of X, Y and Z yarns orthogonal at 90.degree. to each other but which has each Z yarn loop diagonally over a warp and a weft yarn alternately at +45.degree. and -45.degree. at both the top and bottom edges of the fabric. The diagonal loops permit the fabric to be made with either an equal number of rows of warp and weft yarns, or one more than or one less row of warp than weft yarns, and also have its right and left edges bound by Z yarns.

Abstract: A method and machine for rapidly manufacturing transverse diagonal three dimensional fabric in flat panels of variable thicknesses and cross sections, wide widths and continuous length consisting of a yarn guide plate that holds all longitudinal yarns in exact position, two rows of knitting needles, or sewing needles with loopers, that insert rows of transverse yarns at +45.degree. and -45.degree. in the transverse plane, a beat mechanism that moves the yarn guide plate to compact the transverse yarns, and a shift mechanism that moves both rows of needles alternately one row to the right and to the left to bind the right and left side edges of the fabric. A three-dimensional fabric pattern that is produced by this method and machines, which consists of multiple rows of longitudinal yarns held straight in the longitudinal plane, aligned exactly with the longitudinal axis, multiple rows of straight transverse diagonal yarns alternating at +45.degree. and -45.degree.

Abstract: A method of producing three-dimensional fabric in flat panels of variable thickness, variable cross sections, wide widths and continuous lengths consisting of stiff wires as the longitudinal fibers and consisting of transverse fibers arranged in a transverse diagonal fabric pattern. A hybrid weaving/knitting machine that is used to produce this fabric by performing the following functions. The rows of longitudinal wires are spread apart vertically to create diagonal yarn corridors between the wires. Knitting needles insert transverse yarns in the diagonal corridors. The spread wires are compressed at the fell of the fabric to the final fabric thickness. The inserted transverse yarns are moved to the fell of the fabric, pulled tight and beat into the completed fabric. The right and left edges of the fabric are bound with the transverse yarns.